By Mark Bellinger
LEBANON, Tenn. - A father is pleading for his son to turn himself in to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. Stephen Eugene Beck is on the state's Top Ten Most Wanted List.
He has been on there since July 25, when he failed to show up for court. His father said if he doesn't show up soon they could lose everything they own.
Beck's father, Sam, is worried something may have happened to his son.
"Gene, contact us. Let us know," Sam Beck said.
The 74-year-old Wilson County man has not seen his son in several weeks.
"I go to bed at night with it on my mind. Get up. My wife, she's in worse shape than I am," Sam explained.
Stephen Eugene Beck has been running from the law since July. He has been on the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation's most wanted list for allegedly molesting a child.
"People are innocent until proven guilty, but he stands charged with some very serious charges rape of a child, rape, sexual exploitation of a minor," TBI Special Agent Jason Locke said.
A jury conviction could mean life in prison.
"I knew as far as going to court if they convict him it was going to be like a funeral," Sam Beck said.
The day before his son was supposed to enter a plea reducing his sentence to 40 years he disappeared.
"He spent the night with me. I got up that morning, went back to wake him up and he wasn't there," Sam Beck said.
Stephen Beck dumped his pickup in Wilson County and left. He called his father in September, and said he would call back in a couple of days. That never happened.
Now, his father is worried.
"If we just knew. If we just knew something," Sam said.
Beck has a distinguishing feature on his left shoulder. There's a tattoo with the name "April" written across a heart.
The TBI has followed several leads with no success.
"So at this point we're keeping all options open and continuing to run leads both in mid Tennessee and out of state," Agent Locke said.
Sam Beck said Gene is not the person the police make him out to be.
"He can't comprehend what he was accused of, because of memory lapse," Sam said.
As with most parents, Sam wants what is best for his children. He helped his son out by paying part of his jail bond, but he borrowed the money and had to put a lien on his home.
"I told them I didn't have the money so I had to sign the note," Beck said.
So Sam could lose everything if his son doesn't turn himself in.
If you can help locate Stephen Beck you should call the TBI at 1-800 TBI FIND.
Email: mbellinger@newschannel5.com
Facebook: Facebook.com/NC5_MarkBellinger
Twitter: Twitter.com/NC5_MBellinger
Stephen Eugene Beck
